Senate mandates sickle‑cell continuing education for certain health professionals

Tallahassee — The Florida Senate unanimously passed SB 844 to require certain licensed physicians and nurses to complete a two‑hour, board‑approved continuing education course on sickle‑cell disease care management as part of initial licensure or certification renewal.

Senator Jones, sponsor of the bill, laid out the clinical background: sickle‑cell disease alters hemoglobin and can cause misshapen cells that block blood flow, producing acute complications. Citing National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute figures, she said about 100,000 people in the United States and roughly 8 million worldwide are affected by sickle‑cell disease, and noted that roughly 90 percent of people with the disease are Black or African American.

The required course must cover evidence‑based treatment protocols for patients of all ages, continuing patient and family education, comprehensive periodic evaluations, psychosocial care, genetic counseling and pain management. The sponsor argued the training will reduce delayed care and inadequate pain management that patients often report.

After committee‑level consideration and no amendments on the desk, Senator Jones closed and the bill passed by a recorded vote of 37 yays, 0 nays.

Sponsors thanked advocates and named local stakeholders who had supported the bill through committee. The next step is administrative implementation to integrate the requirement into licensure and renewal processes.